Amanda Helms
@amandaghelms.bsky.social
Writer of SFF and sometimes H. Fiction in/forthcoming from LIGHTSPEED, Uncanny, FIYAH & elsewhere. Editor at Diabolical Plots. Parent. Biracial. She/her.
Pinned
Amanda Helms
@amandaghelms.bsky.social
· Oct 31
midnight & indigo: Sixteen Speculative Stories by Black Women Writers
From underwater cities to outlawed magic, lunar missions to haunted houses, sixteen emerging and established Black women writers conjure strange wonders, eerie encounters, and futures beyond our reach...
midnight-indigo.com
It's new story day! My latest, "Within Dead Dreams," is a horror story set in an extinct majority-Black settlement in Colorado. Generational trauma, racial trauma, and body horror. I'm glad this one found a home. Buy the issue from midnight & indigo here: midnight-indigo.com/products/mid...
Reposted by Amanda Helms
The fact that a second strike like that in an armed conflict is definitely a war crime should not completely negate the fact that *there is no war* and ALL the strikes are cold-blooded murder. The whole chain of command are murderers.
December 5, 2025 at 1:20 AM
The fact that a second strike like that in an armed conflict is definitely a war crime should not completely negate the fact that *there is no war* and ALL the strikes are cold-blooded murder. The whole chain of command are murderers.
Reposted by Amanda Helms
It's good—very good, and very important—that district courts keep issuing these 100-page rulings upholding the law. It must be incredibly dispiriting to see them overturned in a two-page, lawless, unsigned order, but please, keep them coming. They expose SCOTUS' corruption like nothing else.
December 5, 2025 at 12:41 AM
It's good—very good, and very important—that district courts keep issuing these 100-page rulings upholding the law. It must be incredibly dispiriting to see them overturned in a two-page, lawless, unsigned order, but please, keep them coming. They expose SCOTUS' corruption like nothing else.
Reposted by Amanda Helms
Hey all,
The Onion is accepting applicants for our writing, video and graphics fellowships.
Fellowships last six months, pay well, and provide full benefits.
You can apply at theonion.com/fellowship.
The Onion is accepting applicants for our writing, video and graphics fellowships.
Fellowships last six months, pay well, and provide full benefits.
You can apply at theonion.com/fellowship.
Fellowship
theonion.com
December 3, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Hey all,
The Onion is accepting applicants for our writing, video and graphics fellowships.
Fellowships last six months, pay well, and provide full benefits.
You can apply at theonion.com/fellowship.
The Onion is accepting applicants for our writing, video and graphics fellowships.
Fellowships last six months, pay well, and provide full benefits.
You can apply at theonion.com/fellowship.
Reposted by Amanda Helms
Everyone owes Behn a huge debt of gratitude. Her effort in a situation that fundamentally impossible odds has MAGA absolutely terrified. They know what a 17-point swing means for them, and this result will escalate what you can expect will be a cascade of retirements.
December 3, 2025 at 2:53 AM
Everyone owes Behn a huge debt of gratitude. Her effort in a situation that fundamentally impossible odds has MAGA absolutely terrified. They know what a 17-point swing means for them, and this result will escalate what you can expect will be a cascade of retirements.
Reposted by Amanda Helms
My new Genre Grapevine is an update on both the Anthropic AI settlement and other genAI class action lawsuits filed by authors. While I'm not happy with the Anthropic settlement, I've come to see it as merely the first battle in a much larger war.
www.patreon.com/posts/144817...
www.patreon.com/posts/144817...
Genre Grapevine Update on AI Class Action Lawsuits | Jason Sanford's Genre Grapevine
Get more from Jason Sanford's Genre Grapevine on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:08 PM
My new Genre Grapevine is an update on both the Anthropic AI settlement and other genAI class action lawsuits filed by authors. While I'm not happy with the Anthropic settlement, I've come to see it as merely the first battle in a much larger war.
www.patreon.com/posts/144817...
www.patreon.com/posts/144817...
Reposted by Amanda Helms
Sure, they've made an environmentally catastrophic mass hallucination disinformation plagiarism Clippy that will destabilize the world, but also their other goal is to replace human workers entirely and let us humans starve. A boycott of AI is the most important boycott of your entire life.
"All of this falls apart if humans don't adopt the tech. This is why you've seen Meta cram its lame chatbots into WhatsApp and Instagram. This is why Notepad and Paint now have useless Copilot buttons on Windows. This is why Google Gemini wants to "help you" read and reply to your emails."
Analysis: OpenAI is a loss-making machine, how can it survive?
Don't call it a bubble! Loss-making monster OpenAI is on the hook for $1.4 trillion (with a T) in compute commitments. How can this go on?
www.windowscentral.com
November 30, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Sure, they've made an environmentally catastrophic mass hallucination disinformation plagiarism Clippy that will destabilize the world, but also their other goal is to replace human workers entirely and let us humans starve. A boycott of AI is the most important boycott of your entire life.
Rights grabs in TOSs are getting WAY out of control. The King Soopers site, owned by Kroger, greeted me with this update when I logged on today. Why should a fucking grocery store need derivate rights to my content, while at the same time claiming they're not responsible for any of it?
November 30, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Rights grabs in TOSs are getting WAY out of control. The King Soopers site, owned by Kroger, greeted me with this update when I logged on today. Why should a fucking grocery store need derivate rights to my content, while at the same time claiming they're not responsible for any of it?
Reposted by Amanda Helms
Small business Saturday, you say? Consider supporting FIYAH as we approach year ten of publishing Black SFF stories and poetry! Back issues, art, gift subscriptions, merch, and more! Tell a friend, you never know who is missing out 🔥🔥🔥 fiyahlitmag.com/shop/
November 29, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Small business Saturday, you say? Consider supporting FIYAH as we approach year ten of publishing Black SFF stories and poetry! Back issues, art, gift subscriptions, merch, and more! Tell a friend, you never know who is missing out 🔥🔥🔥 fiyahlitmag.com/shop/
Reposted by Amanda Helms
“Black Friday,” Stephen miller yells, getting redder and redder, “will be replaced with White Friday.”
November 28, 2025 at 1:38 PM
“Black Friday,” Stephen miller yells, getting redder and redder, “will be replaced with White Friday.”
Reposted by Amanda Helms
Using the belief that creators are the "petite bourgeoisie" to justify pirating books/stealing art is EXACTLY what makes it so hard for anyone who isn't rich to pursue their creative dreams
If you steal our art, you PERSONALLY are preventing us from building sustainable careers
If you steal our art, you PERSONALLY are preventing us from building sustainable careers
Honestly, people calling creators the "petite bourgeoisie" makes me want to snap.
We're working folk. And we work really hard. For next to nothing.
We're not lounging around eating bonbons. We're trying to figure out how we're going to be able to pay rent next month.
We're working folk. And we work really hard. For next to nothing.
We're not lounging around eating bonbons. We're trying to figure out how we're going to be able to pay rent next month.
November 27, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Using the belief that creators are the "petite bourgeoisie" to justify pirating books/stealing art is EXACTLY what makes it so hard for anyone who isn't rich to pursue their creative dreams
If you steal our art, you PERSONALLY are preventing us from building sustainable careers
If you steal our art, you PERSONALLY are preventing us from building sustainable careers
Reposted by Amanda Helms
Do you know how much of the cover price goes to a trad published writer? About 10-15%.
The various types of indie pub get a higher percentage (but have to do more work with virtually zero publicity budget).
How many publishers have been put out of business by piracy? Not a lot. Writers, tho'...
The various types of indie pub get a higher percentage (but have to do more work with virtually zero publicity budget).
How many publishers have been put out of business by piracy? Not a lot. Writers, tho'...
November 25, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Do you know how much of the cover price goes to a trad published writer? About 10-15%.
The various types of indie pub get a higher percentage (but have to do more work with virtually zero publicity budget).
How many publishers have been put out of business by piracy? Not a lot. Writers, tho'...
The various types of indie pub get a higher percentage (but have to do more work with virtually zero publicity budget).
How many publishers have been put out of business by piracy? Not a lot. Writers, tho'...
Reposted by Amanda Helms
Proof that Gen AI is used only by the least creative people imaginable. The best this loser CEO could come up with is eating McDonalds while squatting in a dirty parking lot.
Imagine being set for life and this show you spend your time.
Imagine being set for life and this show you spend your time.
November 23, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Proof that Gen AI is used only by the least creative people imaginable. The best this loser CEO could come up with is eating McDonalds while squatting in a dirty parking lot.
Imagine being set for life and this show you spend your time.
Imagine being set for life and this show you spend your time.
Reposted by Amanda Helms
There are going to be prominent Democrats and mainstream media voices who insist that we have to "turn the page" and "forgive and forget" and they should all be roundly ignored, if not mercilessly mocked.
It’s crazy to think about the crimes we’re going to learn about after this regime ends.
We’re already hearing about Watergate level crimes every week. Imagine what will come out after it’s over.
We’re going to need a full accounting of all that’s been done in violation of the constitution.
We’re already hearing about Watergate level crimes every week. Imagine what will come out after it’s over.
We’re going to need a full accounting of all that’s been done in violation of the constitution.
November 22, 2025 at 10:46 PM
There are going to be prominent Democrats and mainstream media voices who insist that we have to "turn the page" and "forgive and forget" and they should all be roundly ignored, if not mercilessly mocked.
Reposted by Amanda Helms
I am begging everyone who is autistic or cares about autistic people 2boost this signal & hold authorities in Houston, TX accountable: Emmanuel Gonzales Garcia the autistic teen still being held in federal custody for No. Good. Reason. #AutisticTeenInCustody www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/edit...
Houston police broke a family. Whitmire calls it a national model. | Editorial
At the end of the day, a mother is still without her son tonight. A scared teen is still without his mom. For no good reason. Shouldn’t that be of concern to Houston's leaders?
www.houstonchronicle.com
November 22, 2025 at 4:18 PM
I am begging everyone who is autistic or cares about autistic people 2boost this signal & hold authorities in Houston, TX accountable: Emmanuel Gonzales Garcia the autistic teen still being held in federal custody for No. Good. Reason. #AutisticTeenInCustody www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/edit...
Reposted by Amanda Helms
If there are any other magazines, journals etc, who would like my help cataloguing their fiction by tags/genre/etc hit me up! The only caveat is that you have paid your authors!
@erincairns.bsky.social , founder of the fabulous InkFoundry did the lion's share of the story metadata entry with help from @quitevague.bsky.social and the Diabolical Plots First Readers. This might have taken me years to do myself! This was so helpful!
November 22, 2025 at 4:33 PM
If there are any other magazines, journals etc, who would like my help cataloguing their fiction by tags/genre/etc hit me up! The only caveat is that you have paid your authors!
Reposted by Amanda Helms
Socialism is what they called public power.
Socialism is what they called social security.
Socialism is what they called the growth of free and independent labor organizations.
Socialism is their name for almost anything that helps all the people.
—Harry Truman, 1952
Socialism is what they called social security.
Socialism is what they called the growth of free and independent labor organizations.
Socialism is their name for almost anything that helps all the people.
—Harry Truman, 1952
November 21, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Socialism is what they called public power.
Socialism is what they called social security.
Socialism is what they called the growth of free and independent labor organizations.
Socialism is their name for almost anything that helps all the people.
—Harry Truman, 1952
Socialism is what they called social security.
Socialism is what they called the growth of free and independent labor organizations.
Socialism is their name for almost anything that helps all the people.
—Harry Truman, 1952
Reposted by Amanda Helms
imagine knowing literally anything about Haiti and deciding to try this
Gavin and Tanner, planned and trained for nearly a year, legal documents say, in an elaborate attempt to invade a Haitian island, kill its Black men, enslave its Black women and Black children and fulfill their "rape fantasies."
www.fox4news.com/news/haitian...
www.fox4news.com/news/haitian...
NTX men planned to murder men, enslave women on foreign island: Indictment
Two North Texas men have been indicted for an alleged scheme to sail to a foreign island, murder all the men, and enslave the women and children.
www.fox4news.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:28 PM
imagine knowing literally anything about Haiti and deciding to try this
Reposted by Amanda Helms
This week, I withdrew from a speaking engagement at a public university because they sent me a list of prohibited “words & concepts.” I will not humor this censorship. It does a disservice to the stories I’m discussing & the audience, who deserve unfettered access to information & conversation.
November 20, 2025 at 10:20 PM
This week, I withdrew from a speaking engagement at a public university because they sent me a list of prohibited “words & concepts.” I will not humor this censorship. It does a disservice to the stories I’m discussing & the audience, who deserve unfettered access to information & conversation.
Doozy of an update (spoiler: MRM's business practices continue to be awful)
Did you read my post from last week about how contract woes caused me to withdraw an accepted story from F&SF, ending my 54-year quest to be published in that magazine? But wait (as the saying goes) — there's more! Scroll down at the link for an update. www.scottedelman.com/wordpress/20...
A dream denied: My 54-year quest to publish a short story in F&SF ‹ Scott Edelman
www.scottedelman.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Doozy of an update (spoiler: MRM's business practices continue to be awful)
Reposted by Amanda Helms
Every time we talk about someone other than Trump running in 2028 we make Trump just a little more of an irrelevant lame duck (ILD). Please proceed.
LMAO -- Ted Cruz is on Fox News talking about running for president in 2028
November 17, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Every time we talk about someone other than Trump running in 2028 we make Trump just a little more of an irrelevant lame duck (ILD). Please proceed.
Huh. Maybe it’ll be a crossover with the Five Nights at Freddy’s universe. I get the same vibes from both.
Labubu movie in the works for the big screen, report says reut.rs/4nWddHY
Labubu movie in the works for the big screen, report says
The popular Labubu dolls that have ignited a global frenzy may light up movie screens in the future, the Hollywood Reporter said on Friday.
reut.rs
November 15, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Huh. Maybe it’ll be a crossover with the Five Nights at Freddy’s universe. I get the same vibes from both.
Reposted by Amanda Helms
bringing this statement over from Alice’s Twitter. it appears the below was Alice’s last post before passing. I am heartbroken
November 15, 2025 at 2:37 PM
bringing this statement over from Alice’s Twitter. it appears the below was Alice’s last post before passing. I am heartbroken
🍿
Trump: “I am withdrawing my support and Endorsement of ‘Congresswoman’ Marjorie Taylor Greene…”
November 15, 2025 at 2:56 AM
🍿
Reposted by Amanda Helms
Well, well, well.
NEW: The first two years of Massachusetts' millionaire tax has raised $3 billion more than expected.
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
Millionaire Tax That Inspired Mamdani Fuels $5.7 Billion Haul in Massachusetts
A millionaire levy in Massachusetts that New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani holds up as a model for taxing the rich has generated $3 billion more in revenue than expected without forcing...
www.bloomberg.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Well, well, well.